Before and After

In 2015 I was happily remarried, living back in my hometown and life was good. But, by the time I turned 51, I reached an all-time high weight. I was seriously thinking, "Is this my life now? Forever rocking the 'obese chic' look?".  I was officially an empty nester and life had taken some turns I wasn’t prepared for, I lost my 24-year-old son in 2020, and my daughter had taken off for Tampa after wrapping up college. Meanwhile, I was clocking in my 25th year as a Pharmaceutical Sales Rep, which owned all of my time. With a huge territory to cover, I was behind the wheel for over 6 hours a day, zipping from one office to another. So yeah, post-work activities weren't even on my radar. I needed a power nap before I could even think about dinner. I was getting sick at the drop of a hat—sinus infections were my seasonal companions, and any virus in the neighborhood was like, "Hey, let's hang out with her!" My closet was a revolving door of different-sized outfits because those sneaky pounds kept creeping in. I just didn’t feel awful; I looked like a poster child for 'Unhealthy 101.' Inflammation was having a field day in my body, my joints were going on strike, my face was puffier than a marshmallow, and my hair? Let's not even go there. It was like my body had put up a neon sign saying, "Change needed, ASAP."

Back in the day, I was this tiny thing. High school and college were all about me and my clothes doing a happy dance together. Friends would tease me with "Oh, that's so Keisha-sized!" I could eat whatever, whenever, and my idea of exercise was walking to class or shaking it at the weekend clubs. But then came the kiddos. With both pregnancies, I added a whopping 80 pounds each time. Gestational Diabetes decided to join the party too. After my first baby, I shed most of the weight—10 pounds sticking around like a stubborn guest at a party. Second time around, those 80 pounds were more stubborn than ever. I realized I needed to start moving to show them the exit door. Around 35, the slow and sneaky weight gain began.

I've tried every diet and fitness plan known to humankind. Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast (oh, the shakes!), you name it. I did the low-fat thing when it was all the rage (yeah, my 'Snack Well Era'). Calorie counting was a thing thank you My Fitness Pal. Atkins and South Beach had their moments, but they weren't my forever pals. Keto? Oh boy, I went all in—keto lasagna and that infamous "Bullet Proof" coffee. But keto and I weren't meant to be; I gained back not just what I lost, but a bit extra as a bonus. The losing-gaining cycle became my jam for the next 15 years—20-25 pounds playing the seesaw game. I forced myself into high-intensity classes and spin sessions, but I loathed the aftermath. I even consulted a "fat" doctor for prescription diet pills. Phentermine felt like a superhero at first, then turned into a dud. The doctor's final advice? Gain 25 more pounds and opt for surgery. That was my breaking point. No way was I signing up for that!

Everything changed when I stumbled upon Intermittent Fasting. My cousin shared her success story—shedding 60 pounds with time-restricted eating. I was hooked, devouring info like it was the latest Netflix series. The concept of eating intuitively, listening to my body's hunger signals, became my new compass. My cravings did a 180, from gooey cheese sticks to kale and quinoa salads. Who even was I anymore? My relationship with food transformed, and weight started to drop. But the best part? My body began to thrive. I was no longer a magnet for every bug in the vicinity, I had energy to spare, and mental fog? Gone. Exercise became a joy, not a chore. No more punishing myself for indulging earlier. I quickly learned that what you eat is important but it is also what is off your plate that matters! How I was sleeping, how I was handling stress, were my hormones in balance. Through this journey, I lost 60 pounds and found my true calling—nutrition and work-life balance. IF had taken me down a better health rabbit hole that forever changed my life!

Fast forward to September 2022, and I decided to level up. I graduated from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and I am now an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. My mission? Helping women break the Yo-Yo diet cycle. If you're in the "Tired of being tired" club, or the "Busting my butt at the gym and seeing nada" crew, or you're waving the "Can't sleep, need a nap" flag, or maybe "Work and life, I need a referee," or even "Stress is my middle name," I'm your gal.

It's time to reach out. Complete the form below for a free consultation. Let's bring out your best self, because age is nothing but a number. If I can shake things up at 52, well into menopause territory, you can too. You don't have to go it alone—I've got your back!